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FEATURE

including living and fallen trees. Grapes and kiwi fruit require large
trees but trellises to support vines can be installed in young forest
gardens. Other popular climbers include peas and beans.
Food forest benefits, water retention and flood
management
In terms of the benefits provided by food forests, water retention is
sometimes undervalued. By soaking up huge volumes of water, food
forests and other green spaces play a pivotal role in the hydrological
cycle. This is especially true in densely populated urban areas where
impermeable surfaces like tarmac greatly increase runoff and
stormwater flow.
Densely vegetated food forests are effective in slowing water, allowing
it to infiltrate the soil. This reduces runoff and ultimately, soil erosion
and floods. Water flows quickly over compacted earth but the
extensive root systems in a food forest allow more water to penetrate
and filter into the soil. Leaves and other vegetation falling to the
ground decompose into a rich organic mulch cover. The mulch acts
like a sponge, soaking up water and increasing water retention.

Information and photos supplied by Robyn Hills, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA)

Integrating frost-sensitive cropping under shade cloth with an existing fruit
orchard

Concentric cabbage and wild basil around pome (apple and pear family) and
stone (peach and plum family) fruit orchard

Growing cucurbits up fences with heavy mulching protects and increases
yields in a food forest n

Landscape SA • Issue 116 2022 19